"She's a Miracle"

At the writing of this post, my sister is back in a regular room - God is good all the time, all the time, God is good!

The neurologist is saying that they are "fairly certain" (medicine I'm learning is very much an art and thank God for the talented artists practicing!) that the stroke she suffered is the result of an under developed ventri brachial something artery that dissected and the inner layer collapsed onto itself and in the free space collected blood and boom clot. In other words a fluke,that would only have been detected by some weird coincidence. The damage is 1/4 of her cerebellum and she was greatly relieved to know from one of our excellent physician friends ; ) that you can live even without a cerebellum!

The pain in her head is down to about a 5, her blood pressure is still more than it should be, but probably due to the pain, which is not unexpected with a severe trauma - everything is exposed and raw and well, hurts. We are in day 4 so one more day to go and she's out of the time frame when we should see any other incidence ets.

She is on a blood thinner by IV now, but will be weaned to a pill variety for the next 3-6 months. The doctors are baffled how she can have not deficits, and still the magnitude of damage that she has incurred.

"She's a miracle" said her new floor nurse, Ruth today explaining her to the other floor nurse. "If anyone ever tells you it's not possible, just tell them about her because - she's a miracle".

This is the first time since it began my worried, weary eyes are wet with tears of relief not fear.

Keep your prayers coming, because she's not quite home yet, but she's rounding 2nd and headed to third and the lane looks clear!

God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Learning More Than I Wanted To Know

My sister will hopefully move off the ICU floor tomorrow if she has another good night. The neurologist seems to think more definitively that she's on the downside of this thing, but wants her to be monitored because you watch for signs of escalation for 3 hours to 5 days following a stroke.

The ventri brachial something something, on either side of the back of her head he "suspects highly" dissected or collapsed and blood accumulated and therefore the clot. The incredible pain is from the trauma damage to the brain and the increased blood pressure is because of the pain so she'll be on blood thinners for the next 3-6 months and blood pressure meds. I am learning far too much about medicine. : )

Thank you for yor prayers.

ICU

My sister has been moved to the ICU. The rest of the symptoms have faded, but the migraine like headache continues. The MRI and MRA showed a stroked definitely did occur and effected 1/4 - 1/3 of her cerebellum. She is scheduled for a CT angiogram tomorrow which is a non invasive procedure to determine the damage to the ventri something artery at the base of her brain. (For you medical types, feel free to correct my medical terminology, I'm lucky to be keeping up when the doctor comes into the room!)

She miraculously still has motor function, balance, strength etc,; however they have also found some swelling on the brain, undoubtedly the cause of the
throbbing, squeezing pain she's feeling. The Neurologist decided to admit her to the ICU - and is baffled at the moment by what is the cause of this whole event. The pain will not subside even with the narcotic and morphine chaser and he doesn't know if she's on the way out of the danger curve, or gearing up for something worse.

As our good friend "Dad" pointed out, God has put her in the best possible place throughout this ordeal: with us, instead of home alone, into the ER instead of at our house, admitted into the hospital instead of sent off with the excuse of "oh well it must just be a migraine", now into the ICU with the unexplainable and very real danger of ? instead of the unthinkable.

How is everyone? My husband is nervous about his one year scan for cancer coming up soon, which every trip into the hospital reminds him of. Our mother is doing her best to maintain a calm exterior. The dogs are just happy when they're let outside and fed. Although her dog watches "soulfully" (forgive my theology) for his mistress to return. I'm "holding my own" mostly, but am thankful, very very thankful for my friends who I know are really holding me while I'm "holding my own".

Prayers Requested

My sister suffered what is being described as a small stroke last night.

All of a sudden she became dizzy, nauseous, couldn't keep her balance and was throwing up. We thought it was a migraine, but because this wasn't the usual attack Mom took her to the ER just in case. And it's a good thing she did too, a CT scan revealed something in her cerebellum that they think was a stroke, thus the balance issues. She goes in for a MRI today and then we see. She has to stay at the hospital for the next couple of days.

It's just to weird.

Your prayers are requested and greatly appreciated.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

For the big finale to my trip to Central Florida, visited Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. Our blessing of the day was seeing a manatee and her baby outside the confines of the park. And the regulars were quite something too!


Thank you so much to the "King and Queen of Iowa" for their wonderful hospitality and the much needed rest and relaxation.

Tiny Bubbles...

Today marked another trip to my favorite winery, Lakeridge, http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/. Had a mixed case shipped home, in advent of the annual Super Bowl party.

I love to go to that place. It's all Tuscany meets Florida, rustic wood and sunshine. And quite frankly the free tasting isn't bad either ; )

Viagra Central

So today I was hanging out at The Villages, reading, The Tender Bar, waiting for Judy to finish a meeting. I was in one of the community/club houses, was a nice space to sit and read a book...and people watch. I couldn't help but remember the stories that ran over the internet a last year about all the increased sexual activity and high rate of venereal disease. I became aware the room was blue...very blue and the radio station kept playing "date" music and the women where stopping to check their look in the mirror by where I was sitting and the clothes on some of them were what I would have called Liberty Street specials!

A day that you learn something is a day not wasted...I've learned that the "senior" in senior community might not be referring to age as much as to experience!

Animal Kingdom Comes

So here I am in Florida. Wrapped up a conference and followed it with a day at Disney's Animal Kingdom. And it was a good day. I have to admit it, commercialism at its most slick, are the Disney parks, they create wants or "perceived needs" very smoothly. I was better than on past excursions to "the happiest place on earth", but of course laid down some coin going through the park, not as much as I could have definitely, but enough. We were in luck with the weather, because although it was a rainy morning, it was cool and the animals were all out for the viewing. On our safari ride some of them even came right up to the trucks...not the ones that can eat you, the vegetarians : ) I got some great shots or at least the look good on that little window on the back of the camera.

In the first time in a month or more I chilled out, and was amazed that my thoughts could turn beyond what's the latest crisis at work and what needs ripped down, painted or repaired at home. So as we were walking around the gorilla exhibits, I couldn't help but note how much we are like these animals. I'm a theological evolutionist or whatever the bishops say you're allowed to be because quite frankly if you spend any time watching and reflecting, we're animals who God at some point in our history plunked souls into! The way the family groups relate, what they do to provide for their troop-mates, how their mannerisms are just so like humans. I got a good picture of a nine year old male stopping to take a drink from the stream with his cupped hand. How many times have I done something similar from the tap in the bathroom? And the family group. While "Dad" slept, one of the "Mom's" (how sadly like us that is too, anyway) sat there attending her children, while he slept (napped in a recliner in front of the T.V.)

Males must leave the troop around 14 or so to go and hang out with other bachelors (frat houses) or entice a female and begin a troop of his own (dating and mating all in one package). Gorillas mate for life, I never thought of having more than one mate at a time as mating for life, but that's because when the one female has a baby she won't get pregnant again for another 4-5 years so she can take care of the baby she has! Again not too different from humans...well some humans.